Printing-press.



No. 811,515. PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906. T. B, DOOLEY.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLIGATION FILED SBPT.16,1903. RENEWED DEC. 11, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906..

T. B. DOOLEY.

PRINTING PRESS.

APBLIOATION FILED SEPT.18,1D03. RENEWED D30. 11, 1905 2 SHEBTS SHBET 2.

. awe 7W T3 9 ,1 2a 0M.

A z im M .x 9 .iEs i 4 THOMAS B. DOOLEY, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRlNTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Original application filed April 10, 1903,- Serial No. 151,974. Divided and this application filed September 16, 1903. Renewed December 11, 1905.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs B. DOOLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to inking mechanism for printing-presses and to certain structural features useful in connection therewith, a main object of my invention being to provide an improved inking device in which a capacity for rapid action will be combined with ample and certain ink-distribution, thus making the device capable of being run efiiciently at a high speed.

My improvements are herein shown and described as applied to a platen-press of the jobbing type, but are not limited to use in such a 3ress or to the specific constructions hereina 'ter described.

My improvements in their preferred form asapplied to a jobbing-press are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of the press with a portion of one of its gears broken away. Fig. 2 IS a top plan view of the press with portions of the inking-rollm's and inking-table broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3 and looking toward the rear of the machine. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the ink-distributing table, showing also the adjacent parts by means of which it is operated. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the shaft which operates the ink-distributing table. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are elevations of details hereinafter described.

The framework of the press shown in the drawings comprises two end portions or uprights 2 2, which carry the working parts of the press and are connected by suitable tierods 3 and by said working parts.

My press may be driven by any suitable means, but is herein illustrated as a footpower press, being provided with a treadle 4, connected by a rod 5 with a crank 6, interposed in the transversely-extending shaft 7 the latter being journaled in the uprights 2 2 and suitably connected by gears or otherwise with the other Working parts.

On the inner side of each of the uprights 2 2 is secured a supplementary supporting- Serial No. 291,264.

plate 8, the shape of which is shown in detail in Fig. 8, said plates 8 8 being spaced away from the uprights 2 2 for a purpose hereinafter described. Each plate 8 is preferably provided with a hub 9 cast integral therewith and adapted to pass through and fit a right 2, the plate 8 being bolted to said upright by bolts located adjacent to said hub, as indicated in 8. The result of this construction is that the plates 8 are supported at and near their central portions only, and in order to provide the desired space between each plate 8 and the adjacent upright 2 the walls of the corresponding socket 10 are extended inward or toward the plate 8 a short distance and engage a stop-face formed at the base of the hub 9, as best shown in Fig. 4. The front edges of the plates 8 8 are joined by a strong vertical cross-plate 1.1, which serves hold a form of type on its front face in any suitable manner. Within the space left between each plate 8 and the adjacent upright 2 is located a pair of sprocket-wheels 12 and 13, one such pair of sprocket-wheels being thus provided at each end of the press. The upper sprockets 12 are journaled on studs 14, carried by the corresponding uprights 2, and the lower sprockets 13 are keyed to a transversely-extending shaft 15, journaled in one of the uprights 2 and in a bearing 16, secured to the opposite plate 8. This shaft 15 is provided on its outer end with a gear 17, meshing with a gear 18, secured to the driving-shaft 7. Around each pair of sprockets passes a sprocket-chain 19, which carries a suitable number of inking-rollers 20, four of such rollers being shown in the drawings.

sprocket-chain and providing for their adj ustment with respect to the path in which they travel, as well as for their necessary rotation, I have devised the arrangement shown in detail in Fig. 9, in which 21 represents a specially-constructed link adapted to be pivoted to the adjacent links in the sprocketchain, and thus to form a part of said chain, and also having an outwardly-extending arm 22 bored transversely to receive a circular hub 23, which may be locked to said arm by a set-screw 24. Each hub 23 is bored eccentrically to provide a bearing for the corresponding end of the axis of one of the inkingrollers. It will be evident that by turning as the type-bed and is adapted to receive and.

socket 10, formed in the corresponding up- For securing these inking-rollers to the 5 any pair of the hubs 23 with respect to their arms 22 the inking -roller carried thereby may be adjusted laterally with respect to the path in which it travels.

Between the upper and lower pairs of sprocket-wheels and at the rear of the machine is located a vertical ink-distributing table in such position that the travel of said sprocket-chain will carry the inking-rollers 20 over said inking-table in contact with its rear or outer surface. My ink-distributing table is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which 25 represents a stationary vertical frame secured at its ends to the rear edges of the plates 8 and provided with a number of parallel horizontal slots 26, three of such slots being shown in the drawings. In each of these slots a plate 27 is mounted to slide lengthwise of the slot-that is to say, transversely of the machinethe outer faces of these plates being flush with the outer face of the frame 25 and the plates being kept from falling laterally out of said frame by any suitable means. This may be accomplished, as shown in Fig. 5, by making the adjacent edges of the plates 27 and the slots 26 V-shaped, so that one fits within the other and slides therein. As thus constructed the distribution of ink may be accomplished by reciprocating the plates. 27 in an endwise direction, while at the same time practically the entire surface of the ink-table is kept available for contact with the inking-rollers, and it is one of the features of this construction that all the rollers may be in contact with the table throughout their entire lengths at one and the same time, thus insuring a sufficient and uniform distribution of ink on the rollers. For reciprocating the plates 27 I prefer to provide each of said plates with a rack 28, meshing with a pinion 29, secured to the frame 25, each pinion meshing with the racks on two of the plates, so that by the reci'procation of either of said plates 27 the adjacent plate or plates will be moved correspondingly, but in the opposite direction. One of the plates 27 preferably the middle one, is positively reciprocated by means such as a shaft 30, having a cam-groove 31 cut in its surface, in which groove is located a traveler 32, secured to said middle plate 27. The cam-groove 31 is composed on one side of the shaft 30 of two inclined portions which cross each other, and on the other side of said shaft the adjacent ends of these inclined portions are connected by circumferential portions, as best shown in Fig. 6, so that as said shaft revolves after the traveler 32 has been moved to one end of one of said inclined portions it remains stationary during a portion of a revolution of the shaft, then moves back in the opposite direction along the other inclined portion of said groove to the other limit of its movement, then dwells momentarily, and then returns along its previous path in the opposite direction. The construction of the traveler 32 which I prefer to employ is best shown in Fig. 5, in which 33 is a"stem mounted to turn on its axis in a boss 34, se cured to the middle plate 27, and 35 is a finger secured to said stem and having its free end fitted to travel in the camgroove 31. 36 is a stop-screw threaded into the boss 34 and adapted to bear against the end of the stem 33, and thus hold the traveler in place in the cam-groove. When it is desired to remove the traveler from said groove, the stop-screw 36 is unscrewed, thereby permitting the stem 33 to be moved toward the inking-table far enough to withdraw the finger 35 from the camgroove. The shaft 30 may also serve to operate the platen, as hereinafter described, and to this end is journaled in the hubs 9, formed on the plates 8, and extends through said hubs at each end of the machine, at one of which ends it is provided with means whereby it may be rotated, such as a gear 37, connected by gears 38 and 39 with a pinion secured to the main driving-shaft 7. This arrangement for journaling. said shaft 30 forms one of the features of my construction, as it provides a suitable bearing for said shaft without making it necessary to form journalboxes in the uprights 2 2, and at the same time increases the strength and stability of the parts of the machine.

In connection with the ink-distributing table above described I prefer to employ a supplementary inking-table, such a table'being readily accommodated by my peculiar construction of press-frame and inking-rollers. This supplementary table is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 as consisting of a plate 40, bent to semicylindrical form and covering the space between the cross-plate 11 and the frame 25, being concentric with the upper sprocket-wheels 12, so that its outer surface is in the line of travel of the surface of the inking-rollers 20. This supplementary table provides just so much additional surface, which is available for ink distribution and may be supplied with ink from a fountain (not shown) of any suitable construction.

It is desirable to keep the inking-rollers moist when not in use, and I have provided in my press means for accomplishing this result in a very simple and convenient manner. To this end I provide a basin 41, extending from end to end of the machine and secured to the uprights 2 2 below the sprocket-wheels 13. By filling this basin with water and bringing the inking-rollers directly over it or at the bottom of the sprockets 13 when the press is at rest said inking-rollers will be kept sufliciently moist by the vapor from the water in said basin.

The press shown in the drawings includes, besides my inking mechanism above described, a platen carrier or shell 42, carrying a platen proper of any suitable construction and provided with laterally-extending hubs 43, (see Fig. 2,) which project over horizontal forwardly-extending portions 44 of the uprights 2 2. 45 represents a rod passing through said hubs and projecting therefrom at each end of the machine. There is also secured to each of said hubs an arm 46, (see Fig. 7,) having its outer or free end provided with a slot 47, extending substantially at right angles to the working face of the platen and containing a block 48, which is arranged to slide therein and is pressed. toward the outer end of said slot by a spring 49. Each block 48 is perforated to receive and turn on the end of a fixed pin 50, secured to the corresponding upright 2, and the ends of the rods 45 are respectively connected by rods 51 with crank-pins 52, said crank-pins being carried, respectively, by the gear 37 and by a corresponding wheel 53, secured to the other end of the shaft 30.

54 representssprings extending from the lower portion of the platen-carrier 42 to any suitable fixed point on the framework of the machine and normally in a state of compression, so that they tend to force the platen up ward and to form a cushion for it as it turns over in its movement toward the type-bed, as hereinafter described. The platen. is also provided with fingers or grippers 55 ofany suitable construction for holding the sheets to be printed against its working face. Assuming the platen to start from the position shown inFig. 1, in which position it has its working face uppermost and nearly horizontal in convenient position to receive a sheet to be printed, rotation of the shaft 30 will draw the rod 45, and with it the platen-carrier 42, toward the type-bed, said carrier and connected parts turning on the pins 50 as an axis and being supported by the springs 49 and also to an increasing extent by the springs 54. This turning of the platen carrier 42 continues until its hubs 43 come in contact with the flat guiding-surfaces formed by the upper edges of the portions 44 of the uprights 2 2, the springs 54 acting as a cushion and preventing any shock or ar. As soon as said hubs have come in contact with said guidingsurfaces the latter and the sides of the slots 47 form parallel guides which hold the platen verse movement of the platen then commences as the shaft 30 continues to rotate, the first result of such movement'being to push the laten away from the type-bed until adjustab e stops 56, carried by the arms 46,

come in contact with the ends of the blocks 48, whereupon the carrier 42 and connected parts turn on the pins 50 as an axis and are lifted from the guidingsurfaces 44 and brought back to the position shown in Fig. 1, with the working surface of the platen in con venient position for the removal of the printed sheet and the substitution of an unprinted one. In order to provide for a dwell of the platen while the printed sheet is being removed and replaced, said platen may be operated by a pair of mutilated gears, the gears 37 and 38 being shown as of this construction and the desired dwell being provided for by omitting a sufficient number of teeth from the gear 38, so that no movement of the gear 37 can occur during this portion of the rotation of said gear 38. possibility of blurring the impressions, the press is shownas provided with a locking device consisting of plates 57, one at each end of the machine, which plates may be cast in one piece with the uprights 2 2, respectively, and. are each provided with a notch 58, adapted to receive and fit the inner edge of a ridge or flange 59, cast on the carrier 42, one at each end thereof. When the platen is moved toward the type-bed, the flanges 59 enter the notches 58 and are held thereby at the instant when the impression is taken against any vertical movement in either direction, thus preventing anypossible lateral slip of the platen with respect to the face of the type.

The platen and connected parts above described and the operating means and locking device therefor are not herein claimed, being fully described and claimed in another application filed by me April 10, 1903, Serial No. 151,974, of which application this present application is a division.

The operation of the complete press may be briefly summarized as follows The sprocketchains 19, carrying the inking-rollers, are driven continuously, and the driving-gears are so proportioned that said rollers pass once around the sprocket wheels during each cycle of operations of the platen. The inking-rollers 20 are also so located on the sprocket-chains that they pass over the form of type just before an impression is taken. A sheet being placed upon the platen in the position shown in Fig. 1, the platen is then drawn toward the type-form, and just before it reaches it the inking-rollers pass over the type, and while the platen is returning to the position shown in Fig. 1 the inking-rollers pass over the distributing-table. By virtue of the shapeof the cam-groove 31 (shown in Fig. 5) it takes two rotations of the shaft 30 to give the plates 27 a complete reciprocation in both directions, and the straight or circumferential portions of said slot 31 are so located that said plates 27 are stationary at the times when the inking-rollers are passing over them. These plates 27 are therefore In order to prevent any I shifted in one direction between each passage of the inking-rollers over them, and thus distribute the ink on the rollers in an obvious manner. Inasmuch as the inking-rollers move continuously in the same direction, they may be driven at high speed Without difficulty, while by reason of the large inking surface provided in my press an ample distribution of the ink will be secured at any speed at which the rollers may be driven.

The various features of my invention, although particularly adapted and intended to be used in combination, may be used independently of one another to a certain extent, as will be evident.

I claim as my invention 1. In a printing-press, the combination with sprocket-wheels, sprocket-chains carried thereby, and means for driving the same, of inking-rollers carried by said sprocketchains, and means for adjusting said rollers with relation to the path of said chain.

2. In a printing-press, the combination with sprocket-wheels and means for driving the same, of sprocket-chains containing a number of links each provided with an out wardly-extending arm, hubs adjustably mounted in said arms, and inking-rollers eccentrically journaled in said hubs, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a printing-press, the combination with inking-rollers and means for operating the same, of an ink-distributing table comprising a number of plates each providing an inking-surface and movable in a direction transverse to the path of the inking-rollers, means for reciprocating said plates, and a supplementary inking-table located in the path of said rollers and forming an extension of said ink-distributing table.

4. In a printing-press, the combination with inking-rollers and means for operating the same, of an ink-distributing table comprising a number of plates each providing an inking-surface and movable in a direction transverse to the path of the inking-rollers, and means for reciprocating said plates and for holding each plate stationary during the passage of said rollers over it.

5. In a printing-press, the combination with end uprights each provided with a socket 10, of plates 8 each provided with a hub fitted to one of said sockets and spacing said plate away from the corresponding upright, a type-bed and an inking-table carried respectively by the front and rear edges of said plates, said inking-table comprising a number of plates movable transversely with respect to each other, a shaft journaled in said hubs, and provided with means for reciprocating said plates, means for rotating said shaft, inking-rollers, and means for supporting and operating the same, substantially as described, a platen, and connections between said shaft and platen for operating the latter.

6. In a printing-press, an ink-distributing table comprising a frame provided with slots, plates guided to slide in said slots respectively, a rack-andpinion connection between adjacent plates, and means for reciprocating said plates comprising a rotatable shaft provided with a cam-groove, and a traveler secured to one of said plates and entering said groove.

7. In a printing-press, the combination with uprights each provided with a socket 10 of plates 8 each provided with a hub fitted to 'one of said sockets, and a shaft journaled in said hubs.

8. In a printing-press, the combination with end uprights each provided with a socket 10, of plates 8 each provided with a hub fitted to one of said sockets and spacing said plate away from the corresponding upright, and a pair of sprocket-wheels journaled in each of the spaces thus provided, a

sprocket-chain carried by each pair of sprocket-wheels, and inking-rollers carried by said sprocket-chains.

9. In a printing-press, the combination of a pair of uprights, a pair of plates located between said uprights and supported by the same respectively at points providing a continuous free space at the peripheries of said plates, a pair of sprocket-wheels ournaled in each of said spaces, sprocket-chains carried by said sprocket-Wheels, inking-rollers carried by said chains, and a type-bed and an inking-table carried by said plates and located in the path of said rollers.

10. In a printing-press, the combination of a frame, a type-bed carried on one side of said frame, an ink-distributing table carried on the opposite side of said frame, two pairs of sprocket-wheels and means for driving the same, a sprocket-chain carried by each pair of wheels, inking-rollers carried by said sprocket-chains, the ink-distributing table and type-bed being respectively located in the path of said rollers between the sprocketwheels of each pair, and a supplementary inking-table located between the type-bed and the ink-distributing table, concentric with one of the axes of said gears.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of August,

THOMAS B. DOOLEY. Witnesses:

E. D. OHADwIoK, Josnrn T. BRENNAN.

It is he'reby certified that Letters Patent No. 811,515, granted January 30, 1906, upon the application of Thomas B. Dooley, of Maiden, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Printing-Presses, waserroneously issued to said Dooley as owner of said invention; Whereas the said Letters Patent should have been issued to Joseph Middleby, jva, of Maiden, Massachusetts, as owner of the entire interest in said invention, as shown by the assignments of record in this oifioe; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofice.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of February, A. D., 1906.

[SEAL] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents. 

